Articles (2020)

Overview

In our opinion, the Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) Northern Lite pullover and vest are the best values in lightweight synthetic insulating garments. They retail for nearly half the price of similar garments but have first-class performance. Both are simply designed, well constructed, and use premium PrimaLoft PL1 insulation. PL1 insulation has better performance when wet than many of the non-premium insulations used in some lightweight garments. In addition the microfiber shell fabric of these garments is water resistant by the nature of its tight weave which increases the wet weather performance. This wet weather performance is not surprising since MEC is located in the cool and wet Northwest. At 12.1 ounces (343 grams) for the pullover and 8.5 ounces (241 grams) for the vest, they are slightly heavier than some high-end garments with similar loft.

In Brief

• Super bargain in a high performance insulated garment
• Premium PrimaLoft PL1 insulation. Good performance when wet
• Water resistant microfiber shell
• Good ventilation: deep 3/4-length front zipper on pullover and full length zipper on vest
• Chest pocket on pullover and side pocket on vest are actually large enough to easily stuff the garments into their self-stuff sack
• Minimalist design for pullover

Specifications

Warmth

The MEC Northern Lite pullover and vest have 1.8 oz/yd² PrimaLoft PL1 insulation which is quilted to the liner fabric and lofts nicely even after being subjected to an all day rainstorm. The pullover neck fits closely and the cuff and waist use simple stretch binding tape to seal in warmth. The sleeves are long enough on the pullover that I could pull my hands (with my 32 inch sleeve length) completely into the sleeves to warm them up.

I tested the Northern Lite pullover on a trip with lots of precipitation along a Colorado section of the Continental Divide Trail. Alan tested the vest along the Ice Age trail as well as other locations. To keep warm while hiking, I need to wear more clothing than many backpackers. The Northern Lite provided welcome warmth on the last day of my trip as I began to hike down hill towards the trail head in a hail storm at freezing temperatures. The pullover did a good job of sealing in warmth. Once I started hiking uphill, it became too warm and I needed to take it off. Both vest and pullover kept us warm on cold nights and mornings in camp, and at windy rest stops. As expected, the vest needed a shell thrown over it during windy periods and in the rain. The vest proved an excellent way to increase the warmth of a minimal sleeping bag when Alan weathered a sub-freezing night in a windy and exposed bivy. A bonus – the vest did not steal much space in an already tight sleeping bag.

Both of us found the microfiber shell fabric of the Northern Lite breathable enough for moderate exertion in cool weather (approximately 40 °F). Nonetheless as we increased uphill activity, we needed to make good use of the garments’ zippers for ventilation, and I eventually needed to take the Northern Lite pullover off to keep from overheating. Alan found the vest with its full zip and natural underarm ventilation did much better with temperature regulation and internal moisture accumulation.

Storm resistance

The Northern Lite has a windproof, naturally water-resistant microfiber polyester shell according to the MEC web site. The weave of the fabric is very tight and slows the rate that water seeps through it as compared to a regular weave fabric. I had a chance to test this as I hiked several hours in a constant and heavy rain. The sleeves of my poncho did not cover the lower sleeves of the pullover which were constantly exposed to the rain. Although the pullover shell wet out fairly quickly under the hard rain, water did not make its way through the PrimaLoft PL1 insulation to my base layer, and my arms never felt wet. The pullover dried quickly on my body once I got under a tarp and out of the rain. Alan wore the vest under a very light windshirt in a cold rain. The microfiber shell did a good job of holding water at bay but eventually the PL1 insulation did get wet, mainly around the shoulder seams. He didn’t notice a huge difference in warmth once it was wet and like me was able to dry it out once he got under shelter at the end of the day.

Usability

The Northern Lite pullover fits my long slender torso nicely with room for base and mid layers underneath. The bottom hem is just below hip length and there is enough room to bend over and touch my toes without the bottom hem lifting. The sleeves are long enough to tuck my hands into and the shoulders have good articulation. The hem does not rise when arms are raised to shoulder height and only rises about half an inch when arms are held straight overhead. The pullover does not bind across the back when arms are crossed or held forward. The very large napoleon pocket has plenty of room to carry lots of small items. It is one of the few chest pockets that claim to be a stuff sack that easily contains the garment without straining the seams. Sleeves and waist are not adjustable, but both fit closely enough to keep drafts at bay, while being loose and stretchy enough to go on and off easily. The neck opening fit my slender neck closely and comfortably. People with large necks may find the opening too constricting. The guard at the top of the center zipper is a nice touch. As expected, Alan had great mobility in the vest. He liked the handwarmer pockets both for keeping his circulation impaired hands warm at rest stops and for the extra pocket storage space. The pockets were great for keeping small items like a lighter, tent cord and stakes, stray stuff sacks, TP, and headlamp readily available in camp.

Value

The Northern Lite pullover costs less than half of the other lightweight insulated jackets that we tested, and the vest costs more than $30 less than the other vests in our review. Both use quality construction and materials including premium insulation and a water resistant microfiber shell. Their only drawback – they are just a bit heavier than some garments with similar loft. They are both a terrific value!

Recommendations for Improvement

It’s hard to find fault with these excellent garments, especially when they cost so little for the performance they deliver. If MEC could find a way to shave a few grams off of both garments they would be at the top of their class. Finally, while PL1 is an excellent insulator we feel that Polarguard Delta performs slightly better when wet. We’d love to see a Northern Lite with Polarguard Delta insulation and a lighter liner fabric.

Overview

In making the 12-ounce (340 gram) Logan Vest, Integral Designs concentrates all its insulation where it is needed the most, the torso. With 0.8 inches of single layer loft, the Logan vest was easily the warmest core garment reviewed. For most conditions I feel that a vest, because of its weight, is a more efficient insulating garment than a jacket or pullover, especially when used in conjunction with a good shell/jacket. The Logan vest shines in a summer sleep system and for keeping you warm around camp. In winter conditions, its freedom of movement will make it a good companion for high activity sports such as cross country skiing, and it does a great job of boosting the warmth of an underrated sleeping bag. But, the vest style has its drawbacks. As a stand alone garment, it lacks some resistance to wind and precipitation and doesn’t insulate your arms. You can also lose valuable heat through the arm openings. As noted earlier, a vest works best when combined with a wind/storm resistant shell or insulated over-jacket when conditions warrant.

In Brief

• Warm! With 5 oz/yd² Primaloft Sport insulation, it has two to three times the loft of most other lightweight synthetic garments reviewed
• Still weighs only 12 ounces
• Lots of pockets – two hand warmer and one interior pocket
• Comfortable, great freedom of arm movement. Completely fleece lined 3.25 inch insulated collar
• Durable windproof water resistant Pertex microfiber shell
• Has the usual drawbacks of a vest – e.g. no arm insulation, needs a good over shell in windy and inclement conditions

Specifications

Warmth

With 5.0 oz/yd² Primaloft Sport as insulation, this vest has the highest loft in our sample group. I used the vest as my primary insulation on alpine climbing and backpacking trips and was thrilled by the warmth provided in a 12-ounce synthetic garment. The heavy insulation makes this vest a good addition to your sleeping system when you are pushing or exceeding the limits of your sleeping bag. The fleece-lined collar is also well insulated, and is very comfortable and warm. The hand warmer pockets are Pertex lined, and have insulation on both the inside and outside of the pocket; my cold hands warmed up quickly in these pockets. I rapidly overheated in the Logan vest while hiking uphill in 50 °F temperatures. During aerobic activity, I found it too warm for use at these temperatures although its full length zipper provided good warmth control and it easily vented perspiration from my underarms – another benefit of the vest design. In summer conditions, it performs best as part of a sleep system, and to keep you toasty on cold morning and evenings. In colder temperatures, it excelled as a core insulating garment, and with a shell took me down to well below freezing in moderate activities in windy conditions.

Storm resistance

The DWR treated Pertex shell held up well in moderate rains and the heavy insulation helps to keep storms at bay. Of course, the vest style makes this garment less storm resistant than jackets or pullovers. Water and wind can enter through the armholes, and it does not protect your arms nor can you draw your hands inside sleeves for warmth. I did have some water enter thought the arm-holes in a moderate summer thunderstorm, but I stayed warm nonetheless. The armholes are lined with an elastic lycra hem, which does keep them closed up reasonably well without being uncomfortable. If combined with a water resistant wind shell, or a waterproof/breathable jacket, these drawbacks of the vest style can be mitigated. Primaloft Sport insulation does not hold its loft as well when wet as Primaloft One. I was careful to not completely soak the vest although as noted earlier the vest did fine in all the precipitation I encountered. The Pertex shell is breathable and even when I got overheated it passed perspiration and I stayed dry. There is a 1-inch weather flap under the zipper to provide additional protection from wind and rain.

Usability

The Integral Designs Logan vest fit my torso well and allowed excellent arm movement, another advantage to a vest. The insulated hand warmer pockets are warm and comfortable and the left side interior pocket provides additional storage space. This amount of storage space is not common in many lightweight garments. After several washings and soakings, the vest showed no sign of loss of its DWR treatment, and showed no sign of wear or loss of loft over the course of the test period. A silnylon stuff sack is included.

Value

At $100, with excellent core warmth and a high loft to weight ratio, the Integral Designs Logan vest is an excellent value.

Recommendations for Improvement

I found little to complain about with the Logan vest. An upgraded insulation, such as Primaloft One, would provide better warmth if the vest got soaked but would also raise the price of what is a bargain insulating garment. Lighter zippers and a little less fleece in the collar might remove a few grams at the cost of some comfort and durability.

Overview

The 12.7-ounce (360 gram) Moonstone Cirrus jacket uses a 15 denier high-tenacity ripstop fabric for the shell and lining, along with Dupont Thermolite Micro insulation. The Cirrus has a light shell and a higher lofting 2.4 oz/yd² insulation, versus the 1.8 oz/yd² insulation used in many other ultralight jackets. As such, it maintains a loft/weight performance similar to minimalist jackets while retaining features like pockets and a full zipper. With a good DWR and thick insulation, the Cirrus Ultralight performs well under the worst climatic conditions. Its fit allows minor gymnastics without exposing body parts to the elements. Although the hand warmer pockets are fine around camp or town, they are too low and are covered by a pack’s hip belt when backpacking.

In Brief

• Maintains good loft/weight performance while retaining features like pockets and a full zipper
• The 15 denier x 40 denier high-tenacity ripstop is only 1.1 oz/yd²
• Shell looks great, and held up to hard use
• Great fit with underarm gussets for good freedom of movement
• Dupont Thermolite Micro insulation (2.4 oz/yd²)
• Comfortable pockets, although they are too low for use with a hip belt
• Heavier than some minimalist jackets with similar warmth

Specifications

Warmth

The Cirrus Ultralight has 2.4 oz/yd² Dupont Thermolite Micro insulation in both the body and sleeves. The Thermolite insulation provides about 0.4 inches of single layer loft. For comparison, the weight and volume of Thermolite Micro is comparable to 216-fill power down (216 in³/oz). The insulation is quilted to the outer shell fabric of the Cirrus Ultralight, but not to the inner lining. This insulation is highly compactable, drapes well, and holds up to hard use and washing.

I tested the jacket in temperatures down to 25°F in both high winds and wet conditions, with the jacket fully zipped and hem draw cord cinched, while wearing a light base layer. I was warm in the jacket at temperatures above freezing when resting, and comfortable to the upper-20s in the Cirrus when active. Heat retention is very good throughout the jacket. Moreover, the superb fit and resulting freedom of movement reduced the amount of cold air entering the jacket as I moved.

I tested the breathability of the jacket under the same conditions. It performs well while at rest and wearing dry clothing. The breathability becomes a bit hampered when active, particularly when base layers are damp. The tightly woven fabric does not breathe as well as Pertex Quantum.

Storm resistance

Moonstone uses a 1.1 oz/yd² high-tenacity nylon ripstop fabric for both the shell and liner of the Cirrus. This fabric has a 15 denier fiber in one direction woven to a “super full dull” 40 denier fiber in the other for strength and reduced shininess. The final product held up well and has an attractively dull finish.

Moonstone treated the fabric with a Super DWR coating that does an excellent job of shedding light rain. Heavier rains soak through with time. However, the synthetic microfiber insulation does retain most of its loft when wet. Drying time is a bit slower than I would have liked – probably hampered by the lower breathability of the shell fabric.

Usability

The Cirrus Ultralight is sized to fit over a base layer and underneath a shell. The sleeves are long enough to completely cover my hands if they are balled into fists, and remain at the wrist with my fairly long arms extended or raised (see photo). Torso articulation is also very good. When I hold my arms straight out the hem does not rise. The hem rises only about 2 inches when I raise my arms above my head. Hats off to underarm gussets!There is sufficient length in the jacket to permit the 2-inch rise without exposing the pant’s waistline. The collar on our prototype sample seems slightly big when wearing the Cirrus Ultralight with a collarless base layer. However, I found the fit works well with a collared base layer or balaclava. In addition, Moonstone has made some changes to the production Cirrus Ultralight to improve the collar’s shape.

The FieldSensor brushed tricot lining in the two zippered pockets of the Cirrus Ultralight provides instant warmth to numb digits. The pockets are located low on the sides of the jacket and unfortunately are inaccessible while wearing a pack hipbelt. A third zippered pocket is located Napoleon style on the inside left chest.

Opening the full-length front zipper is the best means for regulating temperature. The Cirrus Ultralight uses a lightweight, but durable, #5 single slider, one-way separating YKK coil zipper. The use of a one-way zipper eliminates venting by unzipping the jacket from the bottom. However, a light shock cord at the hem allows some adjustment to the hem opening thus permitting some lower torso ventilation. The jacket has non-adjustable sleeve cuffs formed of elastic sewn into the shell fabric.

After enduring 76 miles on the Continental Divide Trail in Southern Colorado, numerous other hikes, mountain bike rides, and several washings, the Cirrus is in good shape. Even light encounters with brush are not much of a problem as I discovered while hanging bear bags in the thick pines of southern Colorado. When worn without a shell, the material is not suited to more serious bushwhacking or alpinism. Minimum weight was a primary design objective for this garment; durability was secondary. Nevertheless, stitching is top notch. Moonstone did not miss an opportunity to reinforce with bar tacks or double stitching in critical areas.

Value

Shell fabric that is relatively durable for its weight, exceptional freedom of movement, and the minimal weight of the Moonstone Cirrus Ultralight combine to create a nice overall package at a reasonable price of $140.00.

Recommendations for Improvement

Very little needs improvement. Our only recommendation is to raise the hand warmer pockets so they can be accessed while wearing a pack with a hipbelt.

Don did you want this to be bulleted. It’s not in the reviewer guidelines you sent me.

Overview

At 11.0 ounces (312 g), Patagonia gets back to the roots of the original Puffball – maximum warmth with minimal weight and bulk. Since its introduction, ultralighters have watched their beloved Puffball increase in weight with heavier materials and construction. Patagonia reverses this trend and then some. The new Micro Puff Pullover weights only an ounce more than the old Puffball Vest! The shell fabric drops from 2.3 to 1.0 oz/yd2 and the insulation goes from the economical 4.2 oz/yd2 Thermolite Micro to a premium performance 2.6 oz/yd2 Polarguard Delta. For those who want more warmth, ventilation and pockets, Patagonia has recently added a fully zippered, hooded jacket to the Micro Puff lineup. The jacket weighs 16.5 oz (468 g).

In Brief

• Excellent loft and warmth for a lightweight pullover
• Premium performance Polarguard Delta insulation
• Microdenier shell is surprisingly weather resistant and durable for 1.0 oz/yd2 fabric
• Large, easily accessed front chest pocket
• Minimalist design: if you want a fully zippered hooded jacket, more pockets and adjustments, check out Patagonia’s new 16.5 ounce Micro Puff Jacket.

Specifications

Warmth

For its weight and loft the new Micro Puff is one of the warmest synthetic garments on the market. I’m glad to see Polarguard Delta used in a lightweight garment. In my opinion Polarguard Delta is the highest performing synthetic insulation for both wet and dry conditions! See more on this in the review summary.

I did my primary testing of the Micro Puff on a five-day ski trip in Yellowstone’s high altitude backcountry. Daytime temperatures were below freezing and nighttime temperatures dropped to around 10 °F a few nights. The Micro Puff kept me warm at cold and windy rest stops. It was ideal for putting on at the end of the day and drying out sweat and snow soaked clothing. I usually retired for a 30 to 45 minute rest in my tent by which time my wet clothing was dry – a testament to the warmth and breathability of the pullover. I also wore the Micro Puff to bed to boost the warmth of an underrated top bag (no down on the bottom). I stayed warm well below the rated temperature of the sleeping bag.

Storm resistance

I used the Micro Puff in a whole day of wet snow. I never got wet nor did the pullover absorb undue amounts of moisture. It took less than an hour to completely dry the pullover out once we reached camp for the night. The microfiber shell and DWR finish did a good job of shedding precipitation, although it did wet out over time. Even wetted out, the tight weave of the microdenier shell prevented/slowed moisture entry to reasonable levels, which certainly contributed to its low moisture absorption and fast drying time. The microdenier shell is very windproof.

Usability

The Micro Puff is a minimalist pullover. It has no hood, a half-length zipper, one pocket, and half-elastic cuffs. Its design goal is maximum warmth for minimum weight. If you’re looking for a fully zippered jacket with a hood and lots of pockets, this isn’t it. Even so, I liked its single large zippered chest pocket. It holds a surprising amount of stuff. I used it to store my none-too-small digital camera and sometimes my GPS unit as well. It’s easily accessed and located away from shoulder straps and hipbelts. The very light shell fabric on the pullover has proved quite durable over the past six moths of use.

Value

At $145 for an 11.0 ounce pullover with over half an inch of loft the Micro Puff is a surprisingly good deal. Most other manufacturer’s jackets in this range are heavier or not as warm for a similar price.

Recommendations for Improvement

My main gripe with the Micro Puff is that its cuff openings are a bit tight. I had some difficulty pulling the cuff over my Suunto Vector wrist computer. Since this is an on-and-off-at-rest-stops garment, I struggled with this many times during the day. The zipper pull for the front pocket is small, slippery and hard to use with gloves. I suggest Patagonia use the same pull as on the chest zipper. I never used the drawcord hem adjustment and would have been just as happy with a sewn-in elastic hem to save a bit of weight.

Overview

Montane packed their Solo jacket with lightweight materials and features that retain heat without excessive weight or bulk. The high fitted collar, uninsulated hood, adjustable low hem, and double baffled full-length zipper allow easy adjustments to regulate temperature by venting or battening down as necessary. Despite the inclusion of these features, many of which are excessive for an ultralight insulation layer, Montane maintains a respectable weight of 15.9 ounces (451 grams). Montane achieved this by using lightweight fabrics (0.9oz/yd² Pertex Quantum) and premium lightweight insulation (1.8oz/yd² Primaloft One). Overall, I was pleased with the fit. However, I felt the shoulder articulation could be improved to permit raising the arms without raising the hem.

In Brief

• Full featured jacket – hood, fleece lined collar, drop-tail and hand warmer pockets
• Unique uninsulated hood – provides head and neck protection without the weight
• Pertex Quantum shell – light and breathable, but not made for bushwhacking
• Premium 1.8 oz/yd² Primaloft One insulation
• Highly breathable and adjustable for varying conditions
• Excellent fit, but shoulder articulation could be improved
• Lower loft/weight performance – features increase weight in comparison to minimal garments with similar warmth

Specifications

Warmth

The 1.8 oz/yd² Primaloft One insulation used in the Solo jacket is water repellent, fast drying, and highly breathable. As measured, the Primaloft One affords 0.3 inches of single layer loft to the Solo. Often synthetic insulation is quilted to the garment fabric creating thin spots in the insulation along the stitch lines. Since Primaloft insulation does not require quilting, the Solo benefits by having fewer un-insulated seams. The Pertex Quantum shell is windproof and breathable.

For its weight, the Solo is comparatively warm. This is due more to its features and adjustability than to the performance of its shell and insulation. The Solo has a fully baffled zipper, tall close fitting collar, rollaway hood, and adjustable drop tail hem. We tested the jacket’s warmth at temperatures as low as 25 °F while the jacket was fully zipped, hem tightened, and hood on with a synthetic, long sleeve base layer. We found the Solo performs well at slightly below freezing temperatures in calm conditions. Although highly resistant to wind, some heat retention is lost at wind velocities exceeding 20 miles per hour . We found the Solo comfortable to 25 °F during aerobic activity. The extra features of the Solo add to the temperature rating of what would otherwise be a relatively thin insulator.

The breathable fabrics and insulation used in the Solo combine to create a very comfortable jacket suited to highly aerobic activities. Even at 50 °F with wet clothing while hiking with a pack or mountain biking, the Montane Solo remained comfortable with minimal buildup in interior humidity.

Storm resistance

Montane selected 0.9 oz/yd² Pertex Quantum for the shell of the Solo jacket. Pertex Quantum is highly breathable (98%) and highly tear resistant (12 newtons minimum). The Solo lacks heavier fabrics in high wear areas, making fabric protection a responsibility of the wearer. I agree with Montane’s choice of lightweight materials over unnecessarily durable and heavier fabrics for an insulation layering piece.

Montane designed the Solo as an insulation layer and intended it to be worn beneath a shell in stormy conditions. The shell fabric and unsealed seams are not waterproof. Nevertheless, we found the water shedding capabilities of the Pertex Shield treatment, combined with the water resistance of the insulation repelled short, light rains with ease. Downpours overwhelmed these properties quickly. Although the synthetic insulation maintains a great deal of warmth when wet, and the jacket dries quickly, I found it best to carry another means of storm protection.

Usability

Montane uses a semi-relaxed fit for ease in movement. The jacket is still trim enough to permit layering under a shell. The high collar fits well and seals the neck edge to retain heat. The sleeves are sufficiently long to cover hands when balled into fists. This provides ample coverage of the wrists when extending your arms. Shoulder articulation is not as good. With the arms held out parallel to the ground, the jacket hem rises about 0.5 inches. The hem rise increases to about 5 inches when raising the arms above the head (simulating climbing in the jacket).

We liked the temperature regulating features of the Solo. The Solo offers full coverage with a low hem that drops even lower in the back to cover the butt. The length of the back hem provided coverage of the lower back while mountain biking or bending over. A one-hand adjustable draw cord adjusts this hem. The full-length, two-way #5 YKK Vislon tooth main zipper allows greater adjustability by allowing the wearer to vent from either the top or bottom of the jacket. The 3.5-inch lined collar fit well and provides complete coverage for the neck, sealing out the cold. The collar hides an uninsulated rollaway hood. With perimeter shock cord and Velcro front closure, the hood adjusts easily. Although uninsulated, the hood is still an excellent accompaniment to a wool or fleece watch cap, providing wind and water resistance at minimal weight. Finally, Lycra trims the non-adjusting sleeve cuffs.

The Solo includes two zippered and insulated hand warmer pockets. These pockets are not lined with fleece or tricot for softness. However, they are located high enough on the jacket to remain fully usable while wearing a pack with hip belt, a big plus while backpacking. A third zippered security pocket, located on the inside, provides thin storage for a few valuables.

Without reinforcement patches on high wear areas, the Pertex Quantum shell of the Montane Solo cannot take on much abuse. Still, the fabric should be more than durable enough for lightweight backpacking. During our review of the Solo we treated the fabric to several months of harsh use. Tear strength seemed adequate for such a lightweight jacket. When subjected to bushwhacking through dense vegetation or against coarse sandstone, the Solo showed signs of abrasion. Our review sample has a few snags in the shell fabric, but is otherwise intact. The jacket lacks bar tacking in some high stress areas, particularly at the ends of the two chest zippers. On our sample, the seam popped at the end of the left chest pocket zipper. Although this was easily mended, it could have been avoided with bar tack stitching. Despite the condition of the Solo at the conclusion of our review, this jacket should hold up well enough for conscientious lightweight backpacking since we subjected the Solo to abuse beyond its intended use range.

Value

When considering the features, usability, and weight, the Montane Solo is nearly an exceptional value. However, the lack of bar tack stitching along high stressed seams and poor shoulder articulation knock it down to a good value.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Montane Solo is an overall excellent lightweight synthetic jacket. Montane could improve seam durability with bar tack stitching at high stress points. Our final concern is the shoulder articulation, which does not allow raising the arms without lifting the hem. An underarm gusset might be the solution here.

Overview

At 5.2 ounces (147 grams), the Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Inner Vest is among the lightest synthetic insulation vests on the market. It comes with a Chameece micro-fleece lined collar, elastic openings at the waist and arms, and a full length YKK zipper. It lacks other features such as pockets and a drawstring waist (features that would add to its weight but not its insulation performance). This is a single-minded garment that provides maximum synthetic warmth at a minimum weight.

The Thermawrap Inner Vest uses a 1.8 oz/yd² proprietary synthetic insulation called Exceloft which is quick drying and loses very little loft when wet. The Ballistic Airlight shell is extremely lightweight and is both water resistant and windproof, further adding to the utility of the vest.

In Brief

• Super light, full zip vest (5.2 ounces, Men’s Medium)
• Extremely light Ballistic Airlight nylon shell is windproof and reasonably durable
• A minimalist, no frills, no pockets garment
• Full zip for temperature regulation and moisture control
• Exceloft insulation. Good warmth for the weight. Retains loft well when wet
• Moderate storm protection, soaks through in sustained rain
• Slightly loose fitting garment – consider sizing down

Specifications

Warmth

I took the vest on numerous backpacking and climbing outings in the Northwest and the Guatemalan highlands over the summer and early fall. In these settings, it is typical for me to rely on a down vest and varying thicknesses of long-sleeve tops as my only insulation. At first I was wary of the warmth of the Thermawrap Inner Vest due to its light weight and thin 0.3 inches of loft. While the vest was not as warm as a higher loft down vest, I was very surprised by the warmth of the Montbell. In temperatures down to 45 °F and layered with a wool top, I found the vest to be quite warm and comfortable. Further, its windproof shell kept my core warm and allowed me to layer it over a windshirt when necessary. This saves time over a fleece vest where I would need to peel off the windshirt and put the vest underneath.

The full zipper of the Montbell vest increased its versatility as I was able to open the vest to stay cooler during times of higher exertion. The elastic armholes created a snug, comfortable seal around the arms, sealing in warmth. Further, the high collar warmed my neck and prevented warm core air from leaking out the neck opening.

The Thermawrap Inner Vest performed wonderfully when layered in a three-season clothing system. Its weight makes it an excellent layering piece below a thicker synthetic jacket for four-season use.

Storm resistance

I wore this jacket, layered with a long sleeve wool top, during several Washington and Guatemalan downpours. Although the DWR will resist a drizzle, a heavy rain will soak through the shoulders and back in about 10 to 15 minutes. However, I found that even when it was soaking wet, the Exceloft insulation still kept me warm and lost little loft.

To further check the storm resistance of the Thermawrap Vest, I soaked the jacket at home and wrung it out. By my measurements, the insulation had lost less than 10% of its loft and was still reasonably comfortable to wear. Wearing the wet vest, I went to sleep in a synthetic sleeping bag. When I woke up the vest was nearly dry. I feel very comfortable relying on the Montbell vest during adverse and stormy conditions.

Usability

The U.L. Thermawrap Inner Vest is a simple vest. It has no pockets or drawstring waist. However, it does have a Chameece micro-fleece lined collar which is warm and very comfortable against the skin. It uses a full-length YKK zipper with anti-snagging Cordura backing. It also has elastic at the arm holes and waist. In other words, it has features that aid its performance without adding any extraneous weight. The vest comes with a well-made Airlight stuff sack for easy packing.

The fit of the vest is loose. I normally wear a large but a medium vest would have fit me better than the size large I tested. However, even the large vest fit snugly at the waist and arms due to elastic-reinforced openings.

Value

If you need one of the lightest insulating garments on the market, the U.L. Thermawrap Inner Vest is a reasonable value at $99. Although not as warm for its weight as a lightweight down vest, the Thermawrap’s insulation retains much of its warmth when wet. This is a minimalist garment focused on weight reduction. If you want features like pockets and a drawstring waist, there are vests on the market for less money and with more features and durability – they also weigh more.

Recommendations for Improvement

We don’t recommend adding features that would increase the weight of the vest. We would like to see Montbell adjust the sizing to a trimmer fit that will easily layer under larger garments. Also, a more effective DWR coating to shed water a little longer before soaking through in a storm would add to the attraction of the vest.

Overview

The GoLite Buzz is a full-featured jacket with a premium Pertex Quantum DWR treated shell and 1.8 oz/yd² Primaloft One insulation. Four pockets, a high collar, hem drawcord and Power Stretch cuffs and underarms round out the features. The Buzz is highly breathable and performed well in storm conditions – staying dry for long periods and keeping me warm in long, moderate rains. The Buzz is comfortable and well made. Its list of features makes it heavier than simpler jackets.

In Brief

• Pertex Quantum shell with DWR
• 1.8 oz/yd² Primaloft One insulation
• Full featured, four pockets, 3.5 inch collar, hem draw cord
• Comfortable Power Stretch cuffs and articulated underarms
• Breathabilty and fit are great for high motion activity
• Good storm protection performance
• Additional features reduce loft/weight ratio compared to minimalist jackets

Specifications

Warmth

Most of my testing was done on a summer trip to Alaska, and a few summer climbing trips. I wore the Buzz for four days of exploring in Denali National Park, where conditions were cool, occasionally cold, and the rivers were downright frigid. The tight and comfortable cuffs, drawcord hem and tall 3 1/2 inch collar make the Buzz quite adjustable. I could really button it down when the conditions got poor. At 45 °F, and with a light layer beneath the Buzz, I was too warm to fully close up the jacket, even when relaxing around camp. In Denali, I frequently donned the Buzz to help me warm up after crossing cold rivers. The hand warmer pockets were comfortable and welcome after the cold water. I can attest that the GoLite Buzz is completely impenetrable to even the nastiest Alaska mosquitoes.

Storm resistance

Summer thunderstorms in the Arizona mountains can be violent; the Buzz was subjected to several over the course of the summer. The DWR treated Pertex Quantum shell, in combination with the Primaloft One insulation provided excellent storm resistance for a jacket that is not waterproof. I stayed dry for long periods (30 minutes or more) in moderate rain, and the DWR treated shell beaded and repelled water even long after some water had begun to soak through. Breathability is one of the strengths of the Buzz. The Pertex Quantum fabric, full zipper and Power Stretch underarms combine to make a highly breathable jacket. I wore the Buzz in wet summer storms and used it to keep me dry while hiking uphill in heavy rain. I was able to stay acceptably cool in both situations. This versatility allowed me to use the Buzz as a summer rain garment for warm thunderstorms, with its insulating power still in reserve in case conditions got worse.

Usability

The GoLite Buzz has a number of features not found in minimalist jackets that make it a more versatile performer. Two hand warmer pockets with tricot lining, a vertical zip chest pocket and a vertical zip internal pocket provide loads of storage. The external chest pocket also serves as self-storage for the jacket. The elasticized hem draw cord has two separate toggles for control, and easily adjusts on either side. GoLite calls the Buzz a semi-fitted jacket, and I agree. It fit nicely on my tall, lanky frame, without being bulky, and with room for moderately heavy layers underneath. The Buzz is relatively short waisted to allow freedom of movement, with no drop tail and no coverage of the rear end. The articulated Power Stretch underarms are a welcome reduction of bulk under the arms. Articulation is excellent, with no rise of the hem when arms are lifted horizontally. My Buzz took quite a beating over the summer and shows no signs of wear. It is bar tacked and reinforced at key stress points.

Value

Loaded with features and state of the art fabrics, the GoLite Buzz is a good value at $149. As an ultralight garment, it clearly sacrifices weight reduction to add features like four pockets.

Recommendations for Improvement

As an ultralight jacket, the only drawback to the Buzz is the 2 to 3 ounces of extra weight relative to no-frills jackets. The hem drawcord and possibly the internal pocket could be sacrificed to get the total weight down, while still keeping the most usable features. Narrower cuffs might also shave off a few grams. I removed the hem drawcord on my Buzz – taking 0.6 ounces off its weight. Given my size large jacket which weighed 15.9 ounces, shaving a couple more ounces off the Buzz would bring it into the range of other lightweight Primaloft One insulated jackets.

Overview

The Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Jacket is dedicated to no frills lightweight performance. At 8.0 ounces (227 grams) it is one of the lightest synthetic fill garments on the market. The U.L. Thermawrap uses a 1.8 oz/yd² (1.5 oz/yd² in the sleeves) proprietary synthetic insulation, Exceloft. I found the jacket to be warm for its weight and comparable in loft to heavier garments using Primaloft One insulation. The shell is an extremely lightweight 15 denier Ballistic Airlight nylon. Based on use over the course of the summer, the shell is completely windproof and reasonably durable. The Thermawrap is a simple jacket with no pockets, a full zipper, Chameece micro-fleece lined collar and elasticized cuffs. Montbell also offers the U.L. Thermawrap in a vest style (see our review here) which weighs 5.2 ounces, with an MSRP of $99.

In Brief

• Super light, full zip jacket (8.0 ounces, Men’s Medium)
• Extremely light Ballistic Airlight nylon shell is windproof and reasonably durable
• A minimalist, no frills, no pockets garment
• Full zip for temperature regulation and moisture control
• Exceloft insulation. Good warmth for the weight. Retains loft well when wet
• Moderate storm protection, seams will soak through in moderate rain
• Tightly woven Ballistic Airlight nylon shell not as breathable as other nylon fabrics

Specifications

Warmth

Over the summer I took the U.L. Thermawrap on numerous high mountain backpacking and climbing trips, and a summer trip north of the Arctic Circle to Gates of the Arctic National Park. When the jacket first arrived, my XL size jacket seemed so light that I was skeptical of its warmth. But I wore it down to 40 °F on several occasions and was warm with another light layer beneath the jacket. Its windproof shell was a blessing in Alaska and kept me warm when I might otherwise have needed two layers and much more weight for the same level of protection. Despite being pleased with its warmth, it is still a lightweight jacket, and with only 0.3 inches of loft, it is not a four-season garment. When temperatures get near freezing, the Thermawrap requires significant assistance from other layers if you are resting or around camp. I found a lightweight vest ideal to boost the warmth of the U.L. Thermawrap.

The super windproof shell fabric is not as breathable as some more loosely woven nylon and polyester shell materials. During some high exertion activities I did get a bit clammy in the jacket with the zipper closed. Not surprisingly, the full zip is a great asset for temperature control as well as moisture buildup. I wore the jacket while hiking in the early morning at high altitudes at approximately 45 °F. I was able to stay cool while hiking uphill with the jacket unzipped, and warm on ridges, passes and rest stops with the zipper closed.

Storm resistance

In Alaska, I wore the jacket during several heavy rains with temperatures in the 50s. I stayed completely warm each time even when the jacket had absorbed considerable water. The Exceloft insulation performed very well in home tests as well. I completely soaked my jacket, wrung it out mildly and saw no measurable loss of loft. The Thermawrap’s lightweight, sewn through construction does make it vulnerable to rain. Although it comes with a standard DWR, after 10 minutes of moderate rain, I experienced wet shoulders where water came through the seams. A lightweight wind shell with DWR treatment worn over the Thermwrap would dramatically improve storm resistance, and indeed Montbell has designed the U.L. series as inner layer garments.

Usability

The U.L. Thermawrap is a no frills jacket. I found the 2 3/4 inch high, micro-fleece collar very comfortable and warm when fully zipped. The Ballistic Airlight nylon held up well over quite a bit of use, including some scrambles and moderate abuse from rocks on climbing trips. Overall fit and articulation is excellent. The sleeves are plenty long on the extra large size even for a tall (6’4″) reviewer. The jacket does not ride up when the arms are lifted to shoulder height. It stuffs nicely into the included stuff sack and makes a great pillow.

Value

As a garment on the cutting edge of lightweight gear, the $129 price tag is a good value. Although the overall warmth to weight ratio is below some other garments in this category, the U.L. Thermawrap weighs in several ounces below most of its competition, making it a tempting choice for those who need the absolutely lightest gear.

Recommendations for Improvement

I wouldn’t change the ultralight focus of the U.L. Thermawrap, and would not want to add any features that would increase its weight. We realize that the U.L. Thermawrap jacket is not designed as rain gear, and it won’t keep you dry as long as some other jackets in this category. Still, we think its storm resistance could be improved for almost no additional weight with a better DWR.

Overview

The Camelbak Kronos is designed as a hybrid between traditional and ultralight packs. The Kronos features a ventilating Exo-Air™ Soft Frame and a 3-liter hydration reservoir. It weighs in at 50.9 ounces (1,443 g) and is intended for large volume day hikes and multi-day outings. We found the frame and suspension comfortable when carrying loads up to 35 pounds (16 kg). The frame and suspension provided excellent comfort and ventilation. At 2,240 cubic inches (37 L), the limited pack volume provided a bit of a challenge on three-season solo outings. Nevertheless, the combination of ventilation, hydration, and suspension has made this my pack of choice for short duration outings suited to its overall volume.

Specifications

Features

Ratings follow subtitles on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, and are relative to other Backpacking Light tested framed packs.

Frame and Suspension – 3.5

The Kronos pack uses the Camelbak Exo-Air™ Soft Frame. It includes padded shoulder straps and lumbar pad with ventilating Brock® foam, a removable padded waistbelt, padded upper back support with highly breathable mesh, and a molded stiff plastic frame support. Also included are a removable sternum strap, hipbelt stabilizers, and load compression straps. I found all straps to be easily adjustable. I was initially skeptical that this pack, which comes in only one size, would be adjustable enough for my long frame (almost 21 in (53 cm)). However, I found that it easily adjusted to fit torsos from 21 inches down to less than 16 inches (41 cm).

Usable Features and Ease of Use – 4.0

The Camelbak Kronos comes with a 3-liter hydration reservoir (would it be a "Camelbak" without?), accessible via a full zip back panel pocket. There is a zippered main compartment with top access. Because it is zippered, this compartment cannot be extended and packing larger items, such as sleeping bags, can be a bit challenging. An external zippered accessory pocket sits atop the main packbag opening, and includes a key holder and mesh internal organizers. I found the top accessory pocket to be well designed and useful; I used the internal organizers habitually for organizing small items.

Two mesh pockets are located on each lower side panel. These small pockets are suitable for 1-liter water bottles, snacks, and other small items. We could reach back to remove and replace water bottles without removing the pack. There are two daisy chains on the rear of the main compartment that are very useful for overnight outings when lashing on a tent or sleeping pad. The daisy chains are well placed to reduce interference with side pocket access. The internal frame kept the pack rigid and made it easy to access features even when the pack was nearly empty.

Load Volume Flexibility (Compression) – 3.5

I used this pack for short overnights and also for numerous day hikes. The frame and compression straps made it easy to adjust between low volume and maximum volume outings. Lack of an extension collar was the only drawback when additional volume was desired, though some excess gear could be attached to the exterior daisy chains.

Field Performance

Pack Load Carrying – 4.5

I found the suspension system, which includes the internal frame and large well-padded hip belt, allowed me to carry 35 pounds (16 kg) quite comfortably; five pounds (2.3 kg) more than the manufacturer’s suggested maximum load. It is difficult to carry this much weight without exceeding the volume of this pack, so I feel the pack can generally carry with comfort whatever you can fit into it. The frame transferred weight very efficiently to the hip belt under all conditions (uphill, downhill, heavy, and light loads). I used the pack on overnight spring trips into the southern Arizona mountains and found it very functional and comfortable for lightweight, short duration trips. As a desert dweller, I am very conscious of breathability when carrying heavy loads and here the Kronos performed very well. The Exo-Air™ frame offers superb airflow (Photo 2) that I could feel whenever I was in even a slight cross breeze. The mesh panels on the upper back also performed very well. Even after a long hike in 90 °F (32 °C) temperatures, my back was comfortable and almost totally dry.

Durability – 2.5

Camelbak’s Kronos shows no sign of significant wear or tear after many day trips and several overnights. The pack is reinforced with extra stitching and bar tacks in some critical areas such as frame to fabric junctions. The daisy chains show slight signs of fraying at their edges, probably because the fabric was not heat sealed when cut. This problem is cosmetic only and should not pose a significant durability problem over the long term. The Kronos is designed as a lightweight pack, and the external fabrics are not suited for serious bushwhacking or climbing that might involve hauling or dragging the pack. With reasonable care however, it could serve well as an off-trail pack short of those extremes.

Value – 3.5

The flexibility of this pack as either a daypack or a pack for short overnight trips adds to its overall value. The large hydration system and capable suspension system, along with a good combination of features and weight of just over 3 pounds ( 1.4 kg), make the Kronos a good value at $130. Durability is a concern, thus reducing the overall score.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Increasing the Camelbak Kronos’s total volume would broaden its use to include longer trips or short winter excursions. A traditional extension collar and top accessory compartment could achieve this with very little added weight.
• Our pack showed some minor cosmetic fraying along the edges of the two daisy chains. Perhaps the daisy chain edges could be heat seared to prevent this.

Overview

The GoLite Den 2 is a two-hoop single skin tent with insect mesh doors at each end. It also has nylon doors to allow it to be closed completely in stormy conditions.

In Brief

• Fast, simple setup
• Plenty of usable space
• Solid construction
• Dual mesh and SilLite™ silicone-impregnated ripstop nylon front and rear doors
• Bathtub floor

Specifications

Features

Ease of setup

Setup of the Den 2 is straightforward. This shelter is not freestanding, but two pegs (one at each end) are enough to hold it up. To complete setup, stake two more guylines at the front, then stake each of the four corners to stretch out the floor and add stability.

The two pole sleeves are closed at one end, so the poles are pushed in from the open end and the exposed pole tip is slipped into a grommet. There are two adjacent grommets (see photo) that make it possible to take up the slack from the stretch that occurs in wet silnylon.

Usable Features / Options

The Den 2 is a relatively simple tent with few features or options. It has no pockets, front vestibule, or additional side guy outs. It has a small rear vestibule with zippered access door. The full nylon doors on front and rear allow for privacy when necessary, while the mesh doors allow for extra ventilation with insect protection. It comes with three well-sized stuff sacks for poles, pegs and tent.

The poles are Easton pre-bent 78HS hard-anodized aluminum. They fold to 22.8 inches long with a rubber Shokcord, which the manufacturer claims is good to -40 °F. The guylines are medium weight black braided nylon.

Weight / Sizing

My initial reaction was to wonder why this tent was so much heavier than the similarly sized Tarptent Cloudburst. However, on closer examination it has many additional features:

• stronger poles
• heavier fabric
• more durable floor material
• bathtub floor
• full weatherproof doors at each end

While definitely not the lightest of the tents Backpacking Light reviewed, the Den 2 uses stronger materials than the typical 1.3 oz/yd² silnylon used in many ultralight tents. It is a solid, roomy, two-person tent that is lighter than a traditional, freestanding backpacking tent.

Flexibility of Pitching and Usable Space

There is pretty much only one way to pitch the Den 2. With this tent, it’s important to put the rear of the tent into the wind for greater stability. Some days I needed to choose between pitching it with my head uphill or the aerodynamic, low end into the wind.

With the vertical sides and overhanging ends, all the interior space is quite usable. The tapering floor plan provides a generous area around the head/door end where it is most useful. The nearly vertical sidewalls make for plenty of room for two people.

Usable Vestibule/Porch

The tent has a single vestibule at the foot end. It is low and small; too small to keep a pack in, and the rain tends to drive into it. However, it is useful for keeping items like muddy shoes out of the rain. Wriggling down to the entrance at the low end of the tent to retrieve something from the vestibule requires some contortions. When the tent walls were covered in condensation, I always ended up with a wet head or back.

The leaning hoop at the front of the tent creates a small porch and on rainy days, with little wind, this acts as useful temporary storage. In wet weather it also gives a useful dry space for stripping off and storing wet gear while entering the tent.

Performance

Stability

The Den 2 lacks any side pegs or tie outs. This makes for very large side panels that do not achieve a taut wrinkle-free pitch, especially when set up on uneven ground. In strong winds, the side panels tend to deflect in against the sleeper on the windward side. There is also quite a tendency for the wind to get under the big side panels and lift the floor. The large panels flap in moderate winds and the large, blunt front end of the Den 2 reduces its resistance to very high winds.

I experienced significant deflection in winds over 30 mph, particularly when winds hit the shelter sideways. The solid build of the Den 2 prevented any damage to the tent or bending of the tent poles in high winds. The tent recovered quickly from significant deflection.

Storm Protection

The seams are not sealed, but the SilLite™ is water-repellent and the water tends to bead and run off before it seeps through. Despite many nights in heavy rain, I have not observed any seepage along the seams. The rear is thoroughly rain resistant. The front can be zipped up to repel any storm, although ventilation is very limited with the nylon doors zipped up.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

The tent has bug netting at both ends and no other ventilation. Opening and closing the mesh or silnylon doors controls ventilation.

This tent suffers from the condensation issues that all single wall non-breathable tents have. In still, humid, and cool conditions condensation can be very heavy. Even during heavy rain, though, if both doors are left open and there is a little breeze then the inner walls will often remain dry. When condensation forms, it leads to the dreaded spatter, where rain drops hitting the outside of the tent or wind gusts, shake little droplets of water onto the weary sleeper. I very rarely closed the nylon doors because to do so was to invite heavy condensation in most conditions.

Insect Protection

The Den 2 has effective complete bug protection with full mesh doors at each end. Having large mesh doors at both ends of the shelter helps to make life bearable when hiding from bugs inside the GoLite shelter.

Durability Field Observations

With its solid SilLite™ fabric and strong 6,000 millimeter PU-coated nylon floor, the Den 2 is significantly more durable than the lightest ultralight tents, although this comes at the expense of added weight. I feel a lot more comfortable using it with boisterous kids than I do my light silnylon shelters. The detailing and seams are well thought out and the tent is solidly built with strong guy out points and stiff aluminum poles. I experienced no damage or signs of wear during testing.

Value

This tent is well priced for a solid, lightweight, single wall non-breathable tent. It is a pleasure to set up and is well-sized for two people. If you are looking for a simple, lightweight tent but don’t want to give up insect protection, a tough floor, and the durability of a traditional tent, the $199 GoLite Den 2 is a good value.

Final Thoughts

Tips and Tricks

If you need to access items out the back door, be sure to turn yourself around at the front of the tent first, especially when you have condensation in the tent.

As soon as you can, swap out the GoLite stakes. Titanium pegs are much lighter and easier to work with than those provided by GoLite.

Recommendations for Improvement

While I appreciated the additional durability of the heavier fabrics, the GoLite Den 2 could certainly lose some ounces by switching to lighter silnylon, at least for the upper part of the tent.

To increase wind stability, a tie out on each side would be a welcome addition. A hanging pocket at the front of each side would help with organization inside the tent, especially without a usable front vestibule.

Finally, a beak or other type of front vestibule would help with gear storage on rainy nights. As it is, you must either sleep with your gear, leave it outside, or hope that it stays dry in the rear mini-vestibule.

By eliminating the rear dual doors and zippers, switching to a lighter fabric for the tent body, and adding a front vestibule and side guy outs, GoLite would be able to increase the versatility of the Den 2 without a net weight increase.

Overview

The Eureka Zeus 2EXO is a lightweight single wall tent with exoskeleton frame that stands out because of its numerous features, reasonable price, and quality construction. On the other hand, it has a flawed venting system and forgoes potential weight savings in favor of unnecessary features and more durable fabrics. See our review of the Kelty Flight 2, which is a very similar tent but with slightly better features, weatherproofing, and headroom.

Specifications

Features

Ease of setup

The Eureka Zeus 2EXO is easy to set up and achieve a taut pitch. As a single walled tent, the tent body and urethane coated, non-breathable fly are one piece. After laying out the tent body, extend the two primary poles and insert them diagonally into grommets at the bottom corners such that the poles cross each other at the top. The tent body is pulled up to the poles and attached with plastic quick clips. As the tent is free standing, it is not necessary to stake down the tent body until after erecting the tent and placing it in the proper location. Once erected, the tent corners, attached vestibule, and side vents can be anchored using the included stakes. At a minimum, and with good weather, only four stakes are needed to extend the vestibule and keep the side vents open.

Eureka uses a plastic carabiner style quick clip for their Zeus line to attach the poles to the tent body. The pole clips are easy to attach and remove making quick work of set up and take down.

The tent features a small but functional vestibule. The vestibules require two stakes to pitch securely, but can be held open by tying off to nearby trees or rocks.

Usable Features / Options

It appears that Eureka was targeting a market that wants a lighter weight tent without sacrificing features. As such, the Zeus 2 has many of the features typically found in much heavier setups: full coverage no-see-um bug protection, weather resistant floor, vestibule, interior stash pocket, interior clothesline attachment loops, multiple vents, and zippered entries.

The Zeus 2EXO has two zippered entryways, an outer weatherproof door on the vestibule and an inner door designed to eliminate bugs while permitting airflow. The doors are zippered with YKK #5 coil zippers. The exterior YKK zipper consistently catches in the fly fabric. This problem occurred most often between the exterior zipper and its associated storm flap.

The Eureka does not have external tie outs on the tent body for use in heavy winds, but a work around is possible (described below).

Everything comes with stuff sacks; one for the stakes, one for the poles, and yet another intended to hold the tent body and other stuff sacks.

The Zeus has relatively short pole segments (14.25 inches). The benefit, we suppose, is the ability to market the complete package in a more reasonably sized stuff sack (6 by 15 inches). At 14.25 inches long, however, the poles are too long to fit horizontally in most, if not all, backpacks and would have to be removed from the main stuff sack and inserted vertically in the pack. This being the case, Eureka could consider making each pole segment a little longer to reduce the number of reinforced junctions needed. It should be noted that these comments are tailored for backpacking. Certainly, one who is bike touring or sea kayaking may appreciate the all-in-one-sack packaging found in the Zeus 2EXO.

Weight / Sizing

In tents, weight reduction is usually achieved by using thinner fabrics, replacing tent poles with trekking poles, losing freestanding capability, reducing convenience features, and/or reducing the overall size. The comparatively full-featured Zeus 2EXO tent achieves weight savings by utilizing a single layer design and reducing interior size, to the point of being snug, while only saving a nominal amount of weight through fabric selection.

Flexibility of Pitching

The freestanding design of this tent limits flexibility in pitching. All of the included poles are essential; it is not possible to substitute trekking poles. Stakes are only needed for the vestibule and side vents when climatic conditions will allow. Heavier winds will necessitate the need for the additional four corner stakes. There is some flexibility in pitching the vestibule, which can be fully closed or unstaked and opened wide to enjoy improved ventilation and expanded views. Fair skies are a must here as the nylon and mesh inner doors are not weatherproof.

Usable Space

The quick rising, near vertical sidewalls and fairly steep ends, create an efficient use of floor space. What minimal amount of wall slant that exists is concentrated at the ends and is useful to store odds and ends of gear and clothing.

Usable Vestibule/Porch

The Eureka Zeus vestibule is especially small and barely provides suitable gear storage. Using it to store gear greatly reduces one’s ability to enter and exit the tent. The vestibule does not facilitate entering the tent during a rainstorm as the inner doors are not weatherproof and the vestibule doors provide minimal rain protection when open. Although leaving the vestibule door partially closed helps protect the inner door from rainfall, entry becomes impossible due to the vestibule’s already small size.

Performance

Stability

The Zeus pitches tautly by virtue of its exoskeleton design. It has a trim profile that reduces the surface area exposed to wind. We found it to be stable in high winds with minimal flapping, particularly if pitched lengthwise into the wind to reduce the surface area. When wind direction is fairly constant, pitching lengthwise into the wind is the best method.

Although the Eureka lacks formal guyline tie outs, we found that attaching cords to the plastic carabiner pole clips was a suitable alternative. The clip locations are not optimal as the clips are slightly higher or slightly lower than the mid points along the corner edges and under heavy winds, some flexing of the tent wall still occurs. Guylines should be attached approximately mid-way up the side of a shelter to balance wind force. Guylines attached too high causes the tent sides to buckle inward under high wind.

Storm Protection

The Eureka Zeus has the necessary elements to prevent direct water entry – zippers are covered by storm flaps, the top and side vents are fully protected by canopy awnings, and all seams are factory sealed. We experienced a heavy, high-wind rainstorm during our testing that was unable to breach these entry points.

In the event of a mid-afternoon rainstorm, however, this tent does not provide comfortable refuge for its intended two occupants. This has nothing to do with weather resistance but rather with interior volume. There is only room enough for one person to sit up comfortably and contact with the condensation soaked interior walls is frequent.

Despite the tight quarters, the Zeus kept us dry. We did notice some water movement through the walls after prolonged rain. Several hours after a heavy rain, drops of water remaining on the exterior of the tent slowly soaked their way through to the interior. Moisture movement through the floor when pitched on moist ground was not observed.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

The Zeus 2EXO has a small, nonfunctioning roof vent. Because it was placed just above a bend in the tent body, it does not remain open but lays flat against the bug netting. We found it necessary to insert a sock or stick in between the mesh and vent flap from the outside to keep the vent open and facilitate air movement. The tent also has a small gimmicky flap at the bottom of the inner entry door with “High-Low Ventilation” prominently written upon it. The Eureka already has excellent ground level ventilation along the large side vents, and the rest of the door is open mesh, so opening the flap (by separating the Velcro attachments) causes an imperceptible improvement in airflow. The amount of increased airflow caused by opening the door flap was insignificant compared to the improvement in airflow achieved by propping open the top vent.

Condensation occurs to some degree in almost all tents and generally occurs on the inside of the canopy. It is not a problem unless the occupants and associated gear get wet. With single wall tents, condensation problems are measured by the amount of condensation and the frequency of occupant contact with the inside walls. Overall, we found the ventilation design used in this tent minimized the amount of condensation; however, the interior dimensions are tight enough that frequent contact occurs with what condensation there is. Condensation did not occur to such a degree that water droplets formed, though the walls did feel damp at times.

Insect Protection

The Zeus 2EXO provides exceptional bug protection. All interior doors and vents are either nylon ripstop or no-see-um bug netting and the full nylon floors prevent entry from below. The main concern occurs in hot weather when the interior of the tent is too warm to make fully closing the doors an agreeable arrangement. Options (other than the ones mentioned above) to further adjust airflow, and cool down the tent, do not exist.

Durability Field Observations

The use of heavier fabrics, particularly in the floor, and reinforcements at all tie outs increase the durability of this tent. During our field tests, we were unable to cause any serious damage above minor abrasion under normal use conditions (camping in red rock and cactus country with two kids!). Factory applied seam sealing tape added some strength to the seams by taking much of the load off the double stitching and distributing it across the fabric. We also liked the use of bar tacking at all stress points.

The implied durability stated here covers general three-season backpacking use. This tent is not designed, nor would we expect it to handle, extreme winter travel. The relatively light fabric, as compared to serious mountaineering tents, and two-pole design limits its resistance to tearing or folding under heavy snow weight.

Value

The Eureka Zeus 2EXO is not particularly expensive. In fact, it would be difficult to find a decent two-person tent at the same price loaded with all the convenience features, other than its “cousin,” the Kelty Flight 2. However, the Eureka is not particularly exceptional either and gets a slightly higher than average rating.

Final Thoughts

Recommendations for Improvement

If weight is a concern, the Eureka could be improved by reducing the convenience features and fabric weights. Interior pockets could be left out. The fly could be constructed out of 1.3 oz/yd² silnylon. The plastic quick release pole clips could be replaced with grosgrain webbing. Although these changes would decrease weight, not everyone will appreciate the reduction in convenience features and fabric durability.

The Zeus really suffers from a poorly designed top vent. The vent cover fabric lies flat against the no-see-um netting preventing proper airflow. This problem is worse when the tent body is wet with rain, a time when increased air flow would be desirable. We suggest redesigning the vent cover by raising it above the nylon mesh. In addition, the vestibule is too small for the amount of gear two occupants need to store in it. As a result, much of our gear had to be stored in the already cramped quarters of the interior. Widening the very front of the vestibule at the point where it is staked to the ground would likely do the trick while adding minimal weight. We would also like to see less snagging between the vestibule zipper and its associated storm flap. Finally, lose the gimmicky “High/Low” vent. We found it ineffective at changing the interior climate of the tent and would much rather have the simplicity and weight reduction from its absence.

Overview

The Kelty Flight 2 is a single wall lightweight tent with a two-pole exoskeleton frame. It has numerous features, a reasonable price, and quality construction. However, the ventilation design is flawed. The Flight 2 is very similar to the Eureka Zeus 2EXO (see the Backpacking Light review here) but it costs less and has a slight edge in features and headroom. The Flight 2 could reduce weight by losing some unnecessary features and employing lighter, less durable fabric.

Specifications

Features

Ease of setup

It is easy to get a taut pitch when setting up the Kelty Flight 2. As a single walled tent, the tent body and urethane coated, non-breathable fly are one piece. After laying out the tent body, the two primary poles are extended and inserted diagonally into grommets at the bottom corners such that the poles cross each other at the top. The tent body is pulled up to the poles and attached with plastic quick clips. Since the tent is free standing, it is not necessary to stake down the tent body until it is erected and in the proper location. Once erected, use stakes to anchor the tent corners, attached vestibule, and side vents as needed. At a minimum, and with good weather, only four stakes are needed to extend the vestibule and keep the side vents open.

The Kelty Flight 2 has an additional section of pole that goes across the top of the door to increase width at the entryway, which also increases headroom while sitting in the tent. Though this adds a step to the setup process, we found the increased headroom well worth the time.

The Kelty Flight 2 has small plastic quick clips to attach the poles to the tent body. The size of the clips tightly fit the poles. They are a bit cumbersome to use when compared to carabiner type plastic clips.

The Kelty has a small but functional vestibule. It requires two stakes to pitch securely, but can be held open by tying off to nearby trees or rocks. The vestibule is asymmetrical which improves access through the entryway, but is tricky to pitch tautly. We found it necessary to zip the vestibule door shut before staking.

Usable Features / Options

The Kelty has many of the features typically found in much heavier setups including full coverage no-see-um bug protection, weather resistant floor, vestibule, interior stash pocket, interior clothesline attachment loops, multiple vents, and zippered entries. It comes with extra stakes, guylines, and external tie outs on the tent body for use in heavy winds.

The Kelty Flight 2 has two zippered entryways. An outer weatherproof door on the vestibule and an inner door designed to eliminate bugs while permitting airflow. We did not experience any problems with the generic zippers used in the Kelty Flight 2. Slide action was very smooth and trouble free. In addition, the Flight’s zippers never got caught in the tent fabric.

Everything comes with stuff sacks; one for the stakes, one for the poles, and yet another intended to hold the tent body and other stuff sacks. One noticeable quandary, the Kelty comes with a 23-inch long sack. Try to picture this packed in a backpack. The length necessitates packing the tent vertically, thus focusing the pack’s weight and density down one side. Ideally, we would pack a tent or other similar volume item horizontally to even out the weight and control the internal pack density by its placement. We recommend Kelty resize the stuff sack. We put the tent into another stuff sack in order to pack it for field-testing.

It is certain the length of the stuff sack is directly related to the length of the folded poles for the Kelty Flight 2, which measure 19.5 inches. Compromises are made when making pole segments shorter, as each junction has to be reinforced to prevent bending which increases overall pole weight. Thus, we are not recommending a reduction in pole section length. There seems to be a mind set that when manufacturing and marketing a tent, everything must fit in the main stuff sack. We dispute this and recommend Kelty make a reasonably sized stuff sack for the Flight 2 while leaving the pole section length the same.

The Kelty uses DAC FeatherLite aluminum poles. Even with an additional short section (used to increase head room at the entryway), the Kelty Flight’s DAC FeatherLite aluminum poles, weighing 15.1 ounces, save a couple of ounces over standard 7000 series aluminum poles.

Weight / Sizing

In tents, weight reduction is usually achieved by using thinner fabrics, replacing tent poles with trekking poles, losing freestanding capability, reducing convenience features, and/or reducing the overall size. The comparatively full-featured Kelty Flight 2 tent achieves weight savings by utilizing a single layer design and reducing interior size while only saving a nominal amount of weight through fabric selection.

Flexibility of Pitching

The freestanding design of the Flight 2 limits flexibility in pitching. All of the included poles are essential; it is not possible to substitute trekking poles. Stakes are only needed for the vestibule and side vents when climatic conditions will allow. Heavier winds will necessitate the need for the additional four corner stakes. There is some flexibility in pitching the vestibule, which can be fully closed or unstaked and opened wide to enjoy improved ventilation and expanded views. Fair skies are a must here as the nylon and mesh inner doors are not weatherproof.

Usable Space

The quick rising, nearly vertical sidewalls and fairly steep ends, creates an efficient use of floor space. What minimal amount of wall slant exists is concentrated at the ends and is useful to store odds and ends of gear and clothing.

The Flight 2 has a pole across the doorway that helps increase headroom in the tent. This greatly improves usability of the space by providing room enough to change clothes or perform other feats of inner tent gymnastics.

Usable Vestibule/Porch

The Flight 2 has a small vestibule that hinders entering the tent during a rainstorm as the inner door is not weatherproof and the vestibule door provides minimal rain protection when open. Although leaving the vestibule door partially closed helps protect the inner door from rainfall, entry becomes impossible due to the already small size of the vestibule area.

Performance

Stability

The Flight pitches tautly and its trim profile reduces the surface area exposed to wind. It is stable in high winds with minimal flapping, particularly if pitched lengthwise into the wind to reduce the surface area. When wind direction is fairly constant, pitching lengthwise into the wind is the best method.

It does well in high winds with four guyline tie outs about midway up each corner edge. Being midway up is important. Guylines attached too high would cause the tent sides to buckle inward under high wind. Like a fulcrum, with the anchor point in the middle, the force of wind is even on both the upper and lower portions of the tent.

Storm Protection

The Flight contains the necessary elements to prevent direct water entry – zippers are covered by storm flaps, the top and side vents are fully protected by canopy awnings, and all seams are factory sealed. We experienced a heavy, high-wind rainstorm during our testing that was unable to breach these entry points.

In the event of a mid-afternoon rainstorm, the Flight is an uncomfortable refuge for two occupants. There is only room enough for one person to sit up comfortably and contact with the condensation soaked interior walls is frequent.

One reviewer noticed some moisture movement through the floor of the Flight 2 when pitched on moist ground. In such conditions the use of a ground sheet under the tent may be desirable.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

The Flight 2 has a huge, super efficient roof vent that can be opened for stargazing. However, the small side vents are not effective ventilators.

Condensation occurs to some degree in almost all tents and generally occurs on the inside of the canopy. It is not a problem unless the occupants and associated gear get wet. With single wall tents, condensation problems are measured by the amount of condensation and the frequency of occupant contact with the inside walls. Overall, we found the ventilation design used in this tent minimized the amount of condensation; however, the interior dimensions are tight enough that frequent contact with the condensation occurs. Condensation did not occur to such a degree that water droplets formed, though the walls did feel damp at times.

Insect Protection

The Flight provides exceptional bug protection. All interior doors and vents are either nylon ripstop or no-see-um bug netting and the full nylon floors prevent the insects from entering from below. The main concern occurs in hot weather when the interior of the tent is too warm to make fully closing the doors an agreeable arrangement. Options (other than the ones mentioned above) to further adjust airflow, to cool down the tent, do not exist.

Durability Field Observations

The use of heavier fabrics, particularly in the floors, and reinforcements at all tie outs increase the durability of the Flight. During our field tests, we were unable to cause any serious damage above minor abrasion under normal use conditions (camping in red rock and cactus country with two kids!). Factory applied seam sealing tape added some strength to the seams by taking much of the load off the double stitching and distributing it across the fabric. We also liked the use of bar tacking at all stress points.

The top quick clip on the Kelty Flight 2 is of questionable durability. That clip is different from the other tight fitting clips as it is meant to attach to both poles where they cross in the middle. The Kelty’s double clip flexes more than what we consider acceptable for its application. Should it fail in the field, a short piece of nylon cord could easily be fashioned as a replacement.

The implied durability stated here covers general three-season backpacking use. The Flight is not designed, nor would we expect it to handle, extreme winter travel. The relatively light fabrics, as compared to serious mountaineering tents, and two-pole design limit the Flight’s resistance to tearing or folding under heavy snow weight.

Value

The Kelty Flight 2 is not particularly expensive. In fact, it would be difficult to find a decent two-person tent at the same price loaded with all the convenience features it has; other than its “cousin” the Eureka Zeus 2EXO reviewed here, that is. Both tents are slightly better than average, with the Kelty Flight 2 beating out the Zeus 2 by a hair due to more features, better weatherproofing, and more headroom.

Final Thoughts

Recommendations for Improvement

If weight is a concern, pockets could be left out, the fly could be constructed out of 1.3 oz/yd² silnylon, and the plastic quick release pole clips could be replaced with grosgrain webbing. Although these changes would decrease weight, not everyone will appreciate the reduction in convenience features and fabric durability.

The biggest problem any single wall tent encounters is poor ventilation and the resulting condensation buildup. Although this tent has a reasonable amount of ventilation, it would be improved if the side vents were increased in size. The top two-pole quick clip is a likely candidate for breakage. This should be replaced with a sturdier design.

Overview

The MSR Twin Peaks floorless tarp shelter is a great value for a fast and light, minimalist style excursion. The Twin Peaks weighs in at 1 pound 11 ounces (0.77 kilograms) packed weight and provides 45 square feet of usable floor area with room for two people. The durable 30 denier ripstop nylon fabric coated with silicone and polyurethane provides adequate rain protection without adding significant weight to your pack. Trekking poles provide a taut pitch with lightweight tent stakes securing the corners. A lot of thought has gone into the taped seams, reinforced stress points, stake loops, guylines, and user-friendly door toggles, making the Twin Peaks a great value at $169.95. The Twin Peaks shelter is more than adequate for a spring ski tour and can be pitched using skis in place of the stakes. Obtaining a taut pitch can be tricky in rocky or wooded terrain when it’s difficult to place the corners exactly where they need to be. Staking the corners in a perfect rectangle results in the best pitch.

Specifications

Features

Ease of setup

The Twin Peaks shelter is relatively easy to set up in a perfectly flat dirt, grass, or snow covered area. The reality in summer camping areas is that roots, rocks, and other obstacles make it much more difficult to get a perfect pitch. The tent pitches by simply staking out the four corners, opening the door and positioning trekking poles in place, and staking out the sides. The shelter is not freestanding and requires staked corners and trekking poles to keep it upright. Obstacles can easily throw off the rectangular base making for a less than taut pitch. The tent can be easily set up by one person in less than three minutes in flat, stake friendly terrain but requires more creativity and work in a difficult area.

Note: The needle style stakes that come with the Twin Peaks are relatively light for manufacturer supplied stakes and penetrate ground reasonably, but we prefer wire, skewer style stakes. The Twin Peaks stakes have a larger cross-section that makes the stakes harder to push in and to steer around rocks. The ends of the stakes are smaller and less comfortable to ‘palm’ than a skewer stake. We switched to titanium skewers at the earliest opportunity.

Usable Features / Options

The shelter has one 6-inch equilateral triangular vent to reduce condensation located at the top corner of the tent. The vent is made with bug netting and is covered with a waterproof ‘awning’ to keep water out during a rainstorm. The door is zippered on one side only to shave weight. The tarp is a fast and light shelter containing very few ‘frill’ features that would add excess weight. It has taped seams, reinforced stress points, stake loops, guy lines, and user-friendly door toggles. There are no inside pockets or shelves to store gear and no accommodations for bug protection. The Twin Peaks also comes with seven needle stakes weighing 9.9 grams each and a roomy stuff sack.

Weight / Sizing

The packaged weight of the Twin Peaks without trekking poles is only 1 pound 11 ounces. There is no vestibule, but the spacious 45 square foot floor area is roomy enough to provide sufficient space for two people and backpacking gear. It is very roomy and quite lightweight, considering the heavier, more durable fabrics used in its construction. It is important to note that other two-person, single wall, floorless tents made of lighter fabrics (such as the Integral Designs Silshelter) can weigh about a pound, although they may not prove as durable or storm-worthy as the Twin Peaks.

Flexibility of Pitching

The shelter can be pitched with trekking poles or with guylines from solid overhead structural supports. Such supports can be particularly difficult to find above tree-line. Pitching without trekking poles takes much more time and greatly increases the pitching difficulty. Snow provides friendly terrain on which to pitch the Twin Peaks, using trekking poles for support and four skis in place of stakes. It becomes much more difficult to pitch the shelter in rocky and/or root filled ground.

There is some flexibility in door openings, allowing you to roll up much of the side of the shelter and secure it with an additional pair of toggles. With both the door and the side open, you have much better access to your gear, and excellent views.

Usable Space

The shelter has a significant amount of usable space. The steep walls create a roomy interior so that most of the 45 square feet of floor area can be utilized. There is ample room for backpacks and accessory storage inside the tent.

Performance

Stability

The stability of the Twin Peaks shelter is highly dependent upon the pitching terrain. The shelter is very stable and bomber when pitched in snow, dirt, or grass. The Twin Peaks deflected very little in high wind conditions with a taut pitch in snow. The taut pitch keeps the sidewalls solid and unaffected by wind gusts. The stability is compromised when the terrain makes it impossible to achieve a taut pitch. We tested the shelter in summer conditions in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. We were unable to get a good pitch when tree roots prevented a perfectly staked-out floor area. One sidewall had a 4-inch sag creating a pocket for wind to catch. We did not have any wind during this outing, but pushing on the sidewall with our hands significantly deflected the area with the sag.

Storm Protection

The Twin Peaks shelter performed very well in the San Juans when a light rainstorm doused our shelter in the early morning. The taped seams and waterproof silicone-polyurethane coated nylon fabric held back all the rain and kept us dry on the inside. As with any floorless shelter, the trick is keeping the area beneath the canopy dry in a downpour. Digging a small trench (still making sure to practice no-trace camping by filling it in later) is one way to channel the water away to prevent the inside from getting wet. The spacious design made it nice to hang out in while waiting out the storm.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

Ventilation is accomplished in the Twin Peaks shelter from a relatively small vent hole in one upper corner of the tarp. There is also considerable venting from the floor, since this is a floorless tarp shelter. We did observe a slight amount of moisture build up inside the Twin Peaks after a night in the mid 40’s in the San Juans.

Insect Protection

The Twin Peaks is a floorless shelter with no option for mosquito netting. It is very difficult to maintain an adequate seal between the sidewalls and the outside environment to prevent bugs from getting inside the shelter. Further, sealing the sides of the Twin Peaks to the ground adversely affects ventilation and condensation will occur in most conditions.

Durability Field Observations

The rugged MSR Twin Peaks will hold up to any abuse thrown at it without giving in. The floorless shelter is reinforced in all necessary areas including the guyout grommets, the peak pole placement areas, the seams, and the zipper area. The shelter held up well during our testing and abuse.

Value

The Twin Peaks floorless shelter is a good value for a fast and light, no frills excursion. If you are looking for a simple bomber floorless shelter for four-season use, the Twin Peaks will provide years of service.

Final Thoughts

Tips and Tricks

The key to a taut pitch of the MSR Twin Peaks is to make sure the body of the tarp is pitched in a perfect, tight rectangle with the door closed before the poles are placed inside. A poor rectangular pitch results in droopy sidewalls.

Recommendations for Improvement

We would like to see one mesh pocket placed on the inside of the shelter to store items like a headlamp, sunglasses, wallet, keys, etc. This would not add any significant weight to the tarp but would help keeps key items within reach. A larger vent would aid ventilation at minimal weight gain. The Twin Peaks could also lose some weight through the use of lighter fabrics, although this would affect its durability. Further, it would extend the usable range of the Twin Peaks to offer an optional bug enclosure (like the Black Diamond Beta Bug for example), although this would add to the weight and complexity of the shelter.